Raising the capital to start up a business is not an easy job, how much you need depends on which type of business you are going to start. If you’re starting up a business which needs lots of equipment, office or industrial space, as well as manpower you may need to seek out funding just to get up and running. Here are some tips on how to accomplish that.

Build a Website Showcasing your Product/Service

If you want to attract investors, they are going to want to know what your business is before they will even take a meeting with you. A good way to approach people is to send them the link to your website, you don’t have to put your full business plan online (in fact I probably wouldn’t!) but you can give an overview of the product or service, what you believe the target market is, and what you have discovered from any market research you may have done. To do this as leanly as possible, make sure you are taking advantage of promotional pricing. For example, there is a www.godaddy.com 5-year promotion that will net you some excellent savings on your hosting and domain name.

Your Best Investor: You

There are many ways that you personally can raise capital to start a business. You can draw upon your personal savings or savings from your partner’s income, including salaries and commissions. While you are still working at a job and building your business plan it’s a great idea to start putting money aside using and Automatic Savings Plan or ASP. That way when you are ready to start on your business full time you will have a bit of a nest egg saved up.

You could also cash in some investments and pensions, but be careful that you aren’t putting absolutely everything you’ve got on an untested idea. Depending on your business, you can lower startup costs by leasing necessary equipment instead of buying it outright. There are also credit cards and taking out a home equity loan, but again use these with caution. If you do not know that you will be able to pay the money back then you should probably not do it.

Equity Investment

If you are comfortable with taking on partners, equity investment is also a good way to raise money. Just be aware that an equity investor becomes involved with the business making decisions and operations, so it needs to be somebody that you are comfortable working with. Because they get a larger return on investment if the business does well, they have a vested interest in seeing it do so but you will not have sole control of your company. If you are more of a ‘lone wolf’ type, then this sort of arrangement may not work for you.

Small Business Loans

Depending on where you live, there are likely a variety of small business loans available from banks or government institutions. If you are part of a minority group, you may qualify for loan programs that other businesses would not. For these types of loans the application process is typically arduous, sometimes even more so than applying for a mortgage. They are going to want to see a business plan including how and when you project being able to repay the loan as well as solid market research. They aren’t going to just hand over a large sum of money to anybody who asks. However, as these loans are designed to give small businesses a leg up if you do end up qualifying for one they typically have much more favourable repayment terms and interest rates than say a credit card or home equity loan. But make sure you read the fine print and ask questions before you sign any contracts.

Find out your credit score

Before you start applying for loans and financing it’s definitely advisable to look into your credit rating and make sure that you would qualify. If you already have a low credit score and are rejected for further requests for financing it can reflect negatively on your credit report.

If your score isn’t currently high enough, don’t give up. Credit is fixable, it may take a little while but it will be worth it to spend the time building it back up. That might mean you need to put your business plans on hold for a year or two, but if it’s something that you truly want to do then it will be worth the wait.

Develop a comprehensive business plan

As we already mentioned, any reputable lending organization will want to see a comprehensive business plan as part of a loan application from a start-up company. Make sure that your plan will offer a proper outline of short as well as long-term business objectives, they will want to see that you are planning ahead. You should not forget to offer details of research on your prospect of gaining revenues. In fact, the plan must provide information on the total amount of money you require, the tentative period when you expect to get a return on investment and so on.

Arrange the necessary paperwork

Just like applying for a home loan or other personal credit, you also need relevant financial documents or papers when you apply for this type of funding. You should plan to acquire relevant copies of last tax returns, three or four months of financial statements from banks as well as a relevant copy of the business license. Depending on the business you are trying to start, there may be additional requirements as well. You will likely be working with a loan officer who can advise you on what information you will need to provide, as well as who can help you out if your loan is initially rejected.

Starting a business can be a huge undertaking, but if it’s something that you feel called to do you will find a way to make it happen! Financing is often the biggest hurdle, but by following the steps above you can make the process a little smoother.

So you’re starting up a new business. Is setting up a website on a web host even necessary? If you’re making an app, and you’re main goal is to get a round of VC funding in Silicon Valley, do I even bother with a website?

The short answer is yes. Creating something that showcases your startup and what it does is invaluable. Angel investors will be sure to do their research on you and your company long before they open their purse strings.

So the question is: should I go with Media Temple or GoDaddy?

Why these two? The main reason is that Media Temple is a high end web hosting provider that starts at $20/month. It’s used by enterprises and companies that have complicated needs and structures (i.e. employee logins, internal communications, etc.). Go Daddy is the world’s largest hosting company, and GoDaddy’s prices start at $1/month, which includes a free domain name. If you are creating a simple informational website about your company and don’t care about traffic, then a small website on GoDaddy could suit your needs.

Coupon Codes

Winner: GoDaddy.

When searching for Media Temple coupon codes, we found two websites that have 20% off hosting deals featured:

With GoDaddy, however, there are hundreds of unique coupon codes available for all types of services: website builder, SSL, domains, hosting, etc. There’s a 40% off hosting coupon code that’s our personal favorite.

Why Do I Need a Web Host For Again?

Most people automatically think that in order to have a website they must utilize a web host. For the majority of people that is true, however, for the truly technical wizards out there they can set up their own host inside their own home and utilize it as a power source for their website. The problem with this is that it can cause major issues later down the road that may or may not be something that a person can repair on their own. So why should people choose a web host rather than do this on their own? Contrary to popular belief, some things are better completed by the expert. And in this case, the use of a web host is the expert care that a person is going to need in order for their website to survive on the Internet.

Those that utilize a web host are going to receive a customer service team that they can rely on in order to help them through any problem. Even those that choose to go with a dedicated server are going to have this task force on their side. Therefore, if they ever have a problem, they are going to have someone that they can turn to. Of course the level of customer service is only as good as the web host that someone chooses, thus the person should choose wisely. Otherwise, they are not going to have a good experience.

Another reason why a web hosting company is a better choice deals with the fact that the web host is going to allow people to have more time for themselves. Though most people are dedicating themselves to their website at all hours of the day, it is nice to be able to step away every now and then to get away. For someone that makes their own web host they are going to find that their hosting responsibilities are going to get tangled up with their website responsibilities. And usually, the websites go unfinished or they simply become too much too handle.

If you are serious about starting a website, then look at all your options. Ask yourself if you have the time to devote to making a web host and maintaining this. And also ask yourself if you have the ability to do this. If the answer is no or even if you doubt that you can do this, the web host company is the best route to go and will be one way that you can ensure that your website is completed just as you always imagined.

Up to 70 percent of start-up businesses fail within the first five year.

Most small businesses don’t fail because of a poor concept, a lack of contingency planning, or insufficient capital. They fail because they’re not ready to manage success. The most common reason is a business plan that doesn’t account for scaling up.

Scalability is about planning for success rather than only building contingencies against failure. Look at the resources and systems you’ll have in place to get started. Ask yourself how they will scale up once demand for your product or service increases beyond first projections. How will you manage supply if orders exceed your forecast production rate? How will you make your business more streamlined and efficient, save money, preserve quality, and expand?

There are three essential strategies start-ups and small businesses should focus on to make sure a profitable business can grow: cash flow efficiency, quality control, and project management. Your business plan should include forecasts of how you will manage these elements if your business is successful.

GoDaddy Promo Codes are a No-Brainer For Your Business

As a side note, we use to save money on our web host (GoDaddy), which is part of improving our cash flow.

Cash Flow Efficiency

The baseline need is cash flow efficiency. Constant monitoring of your business practices is essential to understand where you can make savings. While any start-up will need investors and credit to bankroll the project, the first aim should always be to clear the debt and make a return on investment. Ironing out any problems in your cash flow efficiency while you’re still a small operation will save you future headaches.

Your cash flow forecast should be under constant monitoring and revision. Forecasting capital and cash requirements at least six months in advance will help you to make better decisions about where to get the money. To be ready to scale up, you should always try to reinvest from internal resources before taking on more debt. Manage your cash flow well, and your systems will be healthy and effective to manage the future growth of your business. You may want to look into using software like Float or Pulse to help you achieve your cash flow goals.

Quality Control

If you’re offering a high-quality product or service, your business will probably do well. Unfortunately, quality is often the first thing to go if demand outstrips supply. Planning for unforeseen difficulties, business losses, and failure is wise, but it’s equally important to plan for success, which is only possible if you can sustain the quality of your product or service. Careful monitoring and continuous forward planning is the key.

It’s natural to want to accept every client when you’re just starting out. However, to scale effectively, you must be in control of the speed at which your business grows, even if that means admitting to potential clients that you’ve reached capacity for the time being. It’s better in the long term to scale up slowly, and keep quality high, than push your business beyond its limits and disappoint your customers.

Project Management

Careful project management strategies should be in place before you even open your doors to business. On Day One, you should begin monitoring every aspect of your operation, from sourcing materials to cash flow balance, as well as debt reduction, client acquisition, production or provision of goods and services, human resources and investor relations.Effective analysis and skilled project management will enable you to keep on top of every aspect of your business. Check out PC Mag’s roundup of the best project management software for 2017.

Being prepared to scale up takes a lot of extra work. But the time and effort you put in at the beginning will save you a lot of anxiety in the end. With these three essential scaling strategies of a successful business in place at the outset, you’re already primed for scaling up. Don’t let unexpected success be your downfall.

The ever changing dynamics in terms of technology are moving to the next level in the year 2017. As a matter of fact these dynamics are being pushed by increased demands for quality service and even the speed for service delivery. In order to ensure that this demand is met, technology expert have embarked on the development and improvement of the new technology known as Machine Learning. With the year 2017 already witnessing an increase in the level of machines doing much of the work, expert predict that this year will actually be the year of machine leaning.

Machine learning

This can be defined as an artificial intelligence (AI) which gives a computer the ability to learn without necessarily being programmed. The whole technology basically focuses on the development of computer software which has the ability to respond when exposed to new data. Research has proved that machine learning is similar to data mining. However while data mining extracts data for human use, machine learning uses the data to predict special patterns in data hence adjusting the actions of the programs accordingly. Here is more information on how machine learning works.

Areas of machine learning

Experts are looking at 2017 as being the year where technology will breakthrough in terms of machine learning. With drastic increase in smart phones, drones, tablets, motor vehicles, and even internet connectivity, the demand for machine learning ability is also increasing among the users. As such phone companies are changing the programs which run most of these phones.

Cloud Storage: GoDaddy Renewal Coupons are Bringing Costs Down

The costs are also coming way down for advanced computing power. You can already purchase massive amounts of cloud storage from web host companies like AWS (Amazon Web Services) and GoDaddy for pennies on the dollar when you use promo codes. Try

Deloitte technology has predicted that 2017 will witness an increase in the number of smart phones which will come with the machine learning ability. These set of smart phones are set to change the mode of communication and even data management. Moreover this year will witness changes in military intelligence operations.

Auto Industry

Most countries in 2017 are turning to the development of drones which have the machine learning capability. This kind of change is revolutionizing the level of intelligence gathering by most countries without necessarily subjecting the military personnel to any danger. Auto mobile industry has faced lots of challenges in terms of security. However this is set to change and even improved through machine learning where vehicles are being operated by finger prints and even face detection. With these changes, customers are set to experience security to vehicles.

Medicine

The medical sector has already begun experiencing machine learning through data extraction and even storage. In developed economies, data storage and diagnosis of patients is happening simultaneously and this has already seen an improvement in terms of treatment and even data use by medical expert.

The many changes taking place in technologically based industries is set to increase due to increased demand. Moreover these changes are basically being driven by the fact that most of them will have machines which have the ability to learn. Internet connectivity is going to play a major role in machine learning however not all of the machines will depend on internet connectivity.

Have you ever been on Twitter? Or perhaps you have a Twitter account through which you follow a bunch of other users and have some followers of your own. If so, you know just how engaging the site it. There is always something to tweet about; an event, an issue, or a person. When enough people tweet about the same thing, it becomes a trending topic and you can learn all about it just by following the hashtag (#) on your timeline. Who needs TV, right?

By the way, make sure you book your next trip to a music festival with a site like Expedia. They have cancellation coverage in case your next music trip ends up being the next Fyre festival. And they have coupons! If you prefer to experience music in a more personal way, you can get a really excellent quality pair of headphones for around a hundred bucks.

Twitter is one of the fastest growing social media sites in the world today. Users are attracted to the real time nature of the site’s interface. Tweets appear on the timeline immediately after they are posted, allowing you to keep track of events taking place many miles away from your actual location. The 140 character limit prohibits you from making excessively long posts, ensuring that the timeline moves fast and remains interesting.

The Twitter Music App

In such an interactive site, it is only right that media files become popular. In 2013, Twitter launched the Twitter Music App to tap into the growing market for video and audio music files on the site. However, this app flopped in the market because of the large number of online video sites and applications already in the market. This forced Twitter to pull the app off the market in 2014, only a year after it had been launched because it was not doing so well.

Live Streams

This year, however, Twitter announced that it would be partnering with Live Nation to exclusively live stream music concert and other major events. Live Nation is an event and concert promotion company headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. From now henceforth, you will be able to watch a live concert by your favorite musician from the comfort of your timeline wherever you are. Twitter recognizes that most of us only get on Twitter to follow on the personal and professional lives of our favorite musicians.

In fact, 7 out of 10 of the most followed accounts on the site belong or are affiliated to music celebrities. Events that brings these celebrities together such as the AMAs, BETs and the Grammys are among the most live streamed events in the world. With this partnership, Twitter hopes to tap into this vast market of live streams on the site. The good new for us, jolly users, is that we will now be able to live stream concerts by our favorite celebrities and enjoy their performances even when we are not able to attend in person.

Exceptional Ecommerce Apps Every Shopify Store Owner Should Have on Their Android Mobile Device

If you want to maximize your time as an ecommerce entrepreneur, it is imperative you incorporate mobile apps into your task management duties. You can’t always be at your laptop computer managing your store; you need to be able to build your business regardless of your location. Luckily for Shopify vendors, there are now a multitude of excellent Android apps for online business owners. Check out this roundup of exceptional Android apps for Shopify; you just might find one or two you can use to supercharge sales at your store.

Our Free Tip for Entrepreneurs:

Nothing helps out a bootstrapping business like coupon codes, or voucher code for our friends across the pond. They are your lifeblood: especially when using software services like Shopify and cloud hosting applications like GoDaddy and AWS. We wanted to link out to some great resources that’ll help you in your bootstrapping efforts:

SimplyTick for Shopify

If you want to manage your Shopify store on your mobile device, look no further than the SimplyTick for Shopify app. This powerful Android app lets you do everything from track customer order sizes to monitor time-on-site rates. Understand which browsers and digital devices your customers are using, tracking sales rates for your store, and understand your most profitable sellers. The ease of Shopify selling plus the magic of mobile management is a combination too awesome to ignore.

Entrepreneur’s Digest

Available from Shopify, the Entrepreneur’s Digest app is a must-download item for sellers committed to building a profitable online business. This terrific mobile app offers advice on ecommerce, business development, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Discover how to better manage your social media marketing and increase the effectiveness of your email marketing. If you’ve opened a Shopify store and haven’t downloaded this Android app, you’re doing your business a disservice.

Increasing the profitability of your Shopify store is made easy when you have the right tools at your disposal. Discovering Android apps for Shopify not only helps you become a better online entrepreneur, they also help you manage your time when you’re away from your laptop. Do you think you’ll be integrating any of these excellent apps into your ecommerce business management strategy?